Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-04-21
CHAPTER XVI,

CHAPTER XVI.
Tom made little journey with his delight
full new friend. When they started he had
in his care $500 belonging to Mis- SmpEins.
1t was to make the last payment OIL Il snug
property that frugal minded dame had
bought. She sent the money to the city by
Tom, rather than by the United States mail
service, because lit was safer"
At the end Of weeks time Tom came
home. He looked wretchedly for,orn. some
how, and down at the heel and unhappy
His mother and sisters were sure he must
have been sick. They pitied him very much.
His nerves seemed out of order.
The day after he came home lady called
to see him on business. 1t was his Sinp-
kins. He turned pale when he saw her.
ats curioUS, but l hain't go5 tho receipts
for my $500 yet, Tom," said this business wo-
man. "Theyd orter have come by ms. tho
next day."
Then there was q time After n world of
shufiling, stammering and growing red in tho
face Tom made out to let her know that he
had lost her money-had his pocket picked on
the train.
Shirley spoke up instantly.
Don't be uneasy, Mrs. Simpkins; you will
not lose anything. 1t shall all be paid back
to you tomorrow, every dollar.
The storm cloud that had been about to
burst was blown away. Mis- Simpkins
hemmed and hesitated, and finally con-
cluded:
"'Twas my hard airnin's-hard and honest.
reckon you can make it good between ye."
"That we can and will, Mrs Simpkins,"
said Shirley.
Mis- Simpkins took her leave right pleas
antly. "Now, Tom," said Shirley Tom
looked as il he wished the floor would open
and take him in.
Then he made clean breast of it. He had
had to meet his friend Wabbnobbs at q cer-
tain place. The friend was late, but there
were two men betting on an amusing little
game. 1t was fascinating game. Tom be-
came intensely interested, and had chance
to win $500. He was about to stake Mis-
Simpkins' money. The overwhelming Mr..
Wabbnobbs came in at that critical moment.
He advised against it.
"Better not do it, Tom," he said; "your wo-
men folks at home wouldn't like it."
Though the honest and friendly Mr.. Wabb-
hobbs had dropped this remark to dissuade
Tom from betting, it had precisely the oppo-
site effect
Tom lost all his own money and Mis- Simp-
kins' too
He might have run away Wabbnobbs Of
fered to lend him money, and to stand his
friend still. But he had sense of honor.
No Carstone had ever been a coward OF q
thief He came home like a man, but very
miserable one.
"rm going to turn over a new leaf, Shir-
ley" said he; am going to earn my own liv-
ing, like man, and help you"
''When" said his sister. Shirley had grown
a little sarcastic of late years.
"Now," replied the young fellow, emphat-
ically. II want to go west-away west, and
not come back till I've made my fortune.
I've always wished to go west. All want is
money enough to take me there--not enough
to bring me back. want to know for GER
tain nobody will send me money to como
back with. If knew l couldn't get homo
whichever i felt like it 1 think it would DO
better for me-"
Shirley meditated.
"Then west it is, Tom, on your own TERMS"
said she at last.
So for the present honest, laundering Tom
Carstonc disappears from this history. He
had his wish. Shirley did all to equip him
C comfortably and send him away happy. The
last words between sister and brother at the
parting moment were these:
II shall rely on you, Tom"
II will not fail, Shirley"
She had taken on herself additional burden
enough in helping Tom through his troubles.
But there was Brownie, too. Brownie was as
good for nothing pretty girl as ever made
herself q nuisance to o devoted sister. She
was more troublesome than any of the boys
She was given to exploiting herself in wild,
unheard of ways. "for the fun of it,"
Meantime Shirley did her nest to get pretty
dresses for Brownie, and crafty her expen-
Sive whims She loved this thoughtless, win.
some sister, and it hurt her affectionate heart
to see the girl unhappy and so discontented.
But Brownie grumbled on:
II wish the time would come when I could
spend ten cents without feeling guilty." she
said.
"Here's ten cents, j" says Shirley. $50 and
spend it now, and don't feel guilty i'll the
least"
"Oh, you know what l meant. What's the
use of oil this skimping? Other people who
are no better off than we are have beautiful
things. 1t makes one feel so mean to be tied
down here all summer, when the other girls
can have pretty new things and 60 away for
trips and have some pleasure"
"Why, don't know" said Shirley. II
think It's rather jolly to he saved all that fuss
and bother. Nothing is expected of YOU
You can earn your own money, and you
needn't spend it for a carriage and horses be-
cause Mrs. Smith has one"
"There you 60 again, said Brownie "Why
must you always be talking about earning
money, and letting people know you ork?
I'm sure you could buy whatever you wanted
to and get trusted for the pay. Then if we
were poor nobody would know it."
"What head there is upon this girls
shoulders, nowl But, my child, nobody de-
ceives the world in that way. Murder will
out Father used to say you couldn't make q
meal bag stand up when it was empty.
You'll have to pass for what you are worth,
Brownie.n - sa
"Then won't, spoke up the little sister.
"Am goirg to let the Frobisher girls know
my silk dress is an old one colored and turned
and made over ON a sham skirt, when they've
got new ones oil rounda Yes, and that
made it myself? I'll die firstp ,a a.
II should think you'd be rather proud of
it" replied Shirley, simply. "And I'm sure
they see through the sham and laugh at you
for it. A square out and out poverty that